Australian MP Helen Haines Critically Injured in Apparent Car Attack

Independent MP Helen Haines remains in critical condition after being struck by a car outside her Wangaratta office on Monday afternoon.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as an “apparent attack” and a “deliberate act,” stating it “wasn't an accident.” Victoria Police are investigating whether the act was intentional and have activated the Joint Counter Terrorism Team, which includes the Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police, and ASIO. Haines, 65, was airlifted to a Melbourne hospital with critical injuries after being hit around 3:35 PM on Murphy Street.

Witnesses reported hearing a bang and seeing a woman pinned between two cars, with one bystander detaining the driver. Police stated there is no further threat to the public and are treating it as an isolated incident, though the motive remains unknown. Albanese expressed concern about a rising political temperature in Australia, noting increased polarization and the role of social media.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke reported that threats against parliamentarians doubled over the past three years, with over 1,000 threats recorded in the 2025-2026 financial year. Earlier this year, Albanese himself was evacuated from his official residence due to a bomb threat, and approximately 20 cases of violent threats against him are proceeding through courts.

Haines, first elected in 2019, is an independent MP for Indi, a rural electorate in Victoria. Her family thanked bystanders, health workers, and police for their assistance.